Assembly of winged needle and protector sheath for winged needle

ABSTRACT

A protector sheath for winged needle capable of accommodating a winged needle having a needle tube with a sharp blade edge, a hub firmly attached to a proximal end portion of the needle tube, and a wing provided on the hub is provided. The protector sheath has a cylindrical main body, at least one slit is provided in a side wall of the main body, a proximal end portion of the slit is provided so as to be parallel to the axis of the main body, and a distal end portion of the slit is provided so as to extend in a direction which is not parallel to the axial direction of the main body.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/804,031 filed Mar. 19, 2004, which claims priority of Japanese patentapplication No. 2003-078867 filed Mar. 20, 2003, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protector sheath for a winged needleand, more specifically, to a protector sheath which can accommodate theneedle tube and the blade edge of the winged needle by being slid fromthe proximal side of the winged needle in order to prevent a prickingaccident caused by the winged needle after use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Conventionally, a winged needle and a protector sheath for accommodatingthe needle tube and the blade edge of the winged needle have been formedas completely separate structures. The blade edge of the winged needleis firstly inserted into the inside of the protector sheath andsubsequently the needle tube is inserted to protect the needle tube andthe blade edge. Thus, use of such protector sheath has resulted infrequent occurrences of so-called inadvertent pricking accidents, inwhich the fingers holding the protector sheath are pricked by the bladeedge, which leads to a danger of medical personnel being infected withAIDS, hepatitis, etc.

In order to prevent such inadvertent pricking accidents, a number ofslide-type protectors have been developed. In one example of suchprotectors, a protector sheath with a slit is arranged on a tubeconnected to the proximal side of a winged needle, the protector sheathbeing slid to the distal side after the use of the winged needle toaccommodate the needle tube and the blade edge of the winged needle inthe protector sheath (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2673682).

The above-described protector sheath has in its side wall a slit orslits into which the wings of the winged needle are to be inserted. Theneedle tube and the blade edge of the winged needle can be easilyprotected only by sliding the protector sheath to the distal side. It isto be noted, however, that the slit is formed as a straight slitparallel to the axis of the protector sheath, and the winged needle isarranged in the axial direction of the protector, so that the slit andthe needle tube of the winged needle are arranged parallel to eachother. In a protector in which the slit and the needle tube are thusarranged, there is such a danger that the needle tube and the blade edgeaccommodated in the protector sheath may stick out of the slit dependingupon the movement of the winged needle or of the tube connected to theproximal side of the winged needle.

Apart from this protector sheath, the following are proposed examples ofa protector-capable of preventing the needle tube and the edge of awinged needle from sticking out of the slit: a protector equipped with alock mechanism adapted to close the slit and the distal aperture afteraccommodation of the winged needle (see, for example, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 6-63137); a winged needle in which thehub of the winged needle also serves as the protector, therebyeliminating the need to provide a slit for wing insertion (see, forexample, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-75671); and aprotector in which the proximal end portion of the slit of the protectoris provided so as to extend in a direction which is not parallel to theaxial direction of the protector, thereby making it possible to arrangethe accommodated needle tube at a position deviated from the axialcenter of the protector (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,638).

However, in the above-mentioned protector equipped with said lockmechanism adapted to close the slit, the lock mechanism shouldnecessarily prevent the needle tube and the edge of the winged needlefrom sticking out of the slit, which involves a complicated constructionand difficult molding.

In the winged needle in which the hub also serves as the protector, thehub itself becomes relatively large, so that it is rather poor inoperability for medical personnel. Further, the fixation of the wingedneedle to the patient by means of the wings is difficult to perform.

In the protector in which the needle tube is accommodated so as to bearranged at a position deviated from the axial direction of theprotector, there is no danger of the needle tube and the edge of thewinged needle sticking out of the slit. However, depending upon themovement of the winged needle or the tube connected to the proximal sidethereof, there is such a danger that the blade edge of the needle tubemay stick into the inner wall of the protector. Thus, in some cases,there is such a danger that the blade edge pierces through the side wallof the protector and sticks out.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide aprotector sheath for a winged needle which is of a simple structure andensures satisfactory operability, and which can be easily attached tothe patient and involves no danger of the needle tube and the edge ofthe accommodated winged needle sticking out of the sheath.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After various careful reviews, the present inventor has found out thatit is possible to achieve the above object with a protector sheath inwhich a slit is provided in the side all of the cylindrical main body ofthe protector sheath, and a proximal end portion of the slit is providedso as to extend parallel to the axis of the main body of the protectorsheath and a distal end portion of the slit is provided so as to extendin a direction which is not parallel to the direction of the cylindricalmain body, thus realizing the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to:

(1) a protector sheath for a winged needle capable of accommodating awinged needle having a needle tube with a sharp blade edge, a hub firmlyattached to a proximal end portion of the needle tube, and a wingprovided on the hub, wherein the protector sheath has a cylindrical mainbody, at least one slit is provided in a side wall of the main body, aproximal end portion of the slit is configured such that it receives thewing so as to be able to arrange the needle tube of the winged needleparallel to the axis of the main body, and a distal end portion of theslit is provided so as to extend in a direction which is not parallel tothe axial direction of the main body;

(2) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1) whereinthe slit comprises a proximal end portion having a slot with a closedend capable of accommodating the wing and arrange the needle tube of thewinged needle parallel to the axis direction of the main body, a middleportion parallel to the axis direction of the main body and a distal endportion having a slit with a shallow V shape or an arched shape in theaxial direction of the main body and capable of accommodating the bladeedge of the needle tube.

(3) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1),wherein the proximal end portion of the slit is provided parallel to theaxis of the main body.

(4) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1),wherein the proximal end portion of the slit constitutes only theportion where the wing is arranged when the winged-needle isaccommodated in the protector sheath.

(5) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1),wherein the distal end portion of the slit constitutes only the portionwhere the blade edge of the needle tube is arranged when thewinged-needle is accommodated in the protector sheath.

(6) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1),wherein the slit further has a means capable of effecting positioning ofthe wing at the position where the winged needle is accommodated in theprotector sheath.

(7) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (6),wherein the means capable of effecting positioning of the wing is formedby enlarging the width solely of the portion of the slit where the wingis arranged.

(8) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (6),wherein the means capable of effecting positioning of the wing is aprotrusion formed on the distal side of the portion of the slit wherethe wing is arranged.

(9) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to item (1),wherein the distal end portion of the slit is formed so as to extend ina direction that is not parallel to the axial direction of the mainbody.

(10) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to any one ofitems (1) to (9), wherein the distal end portion of the slit where theslit undergoes a change in direction is formed so as to be gentlycurved.

(11) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to any one ofitems (1) to (10), wherein the main body is connected to a holder havinga proximal aperture at the proximal end portion.

(12) a protector sheath for a winged needle according to any one ofitems (1) to (11), wherein the most distal end of the slit is outwardlyflared to form a distal aperture in the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protector sheath for a winged needleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the protector sheath shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the state in which a winged needleis accommodated in the protector sheath shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4(a) is an explanatory view showing the state before a wingedneedle is accommodated in the protector sheath shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.4(b) is an explanatory view showing the state after a winged needle isaccommodated in the protector sheath shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a protector sheath for a winged needleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a protector sheath for a winged needleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a protector sheath for a winged needleaccording to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the protector of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thefollowing descriptions, however, should not be restrictively construed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protector 1 according to the presentinvention has a cylindrical main body 2. An inner diameter of a distalend portion of the main body 2 is large enough to allow the hub and theneedle tube of a winged needle to be inserted therein, and an innerdiameter of the proximal end portion of the main body 2 is large enoughto allow a tube connected to the proximal side of the winged needle tobe inserted therein.

The main body 2 typically has a length longer than that of the wingedneedle, preferably, about 10 to 20 mm longer than that of the wingedneedle, and the wall thickness of the main body 2 is preferably, about 5to 20 mm.

The main body 2 may have a tapered configuration in which outer andinner diameters of the main body 2 decrease toward the distal end (FIG.6), or only its distal end portion may be tapered so as to decrease indiameter toward the distal end (FIG. 1 to 4). The main body 2 also has adistal aperture 22 tapered toward the distal end in the axis directionof the main body 2 and, preferably, outwardly flared. A holder 4 isconnected to the proximal end portion of the main body 2 and has aproximal aperture 21.

The main body 2 is molded from a flexible material easily deformable byexternal forces, for example, a thermoplastic resin, such aspolypropylene, polystyrene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, oracrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer or the like.

A slit 3 allowing insertion of the wings 51 of a winged needle 5 isprovided in the side wall of the main body 2. The number of the slit 3is at least one, preferably, 3 to 5. The slit 3 has a proximal endportion 31 configured such that it can receive the wings 51 so as toallow the needle tube 52 of the winged needle 5 to be arranged parallelto the axis of the main body 2. The proximal end portion is provided,for example, so as to extend parallel to the axis of the main body 2(see FIGS. 1 to 4). When the needle tube 52 and the blade edge 53 of thewinged needle 5 are to be accommodated in the protector 1, the wings 51of the winged needle 5 enter the slit or slits 3 from the distal sidethereof, i.e., distal aperture 22, and are arranged in that portion ofthe proximal end portion 31 which is parallel to the axis (see FIGS.4(a) and 4(b)). Since the proximal end portion 31 is parallel to theaxis of the main body 2, the needle tube 52 accommodated in theprotector 1 is also arranged parallel to the axis of the main body 2.

The slit 3 has a distal end portion 32 provided so as to extend in adirection that is not parallel to the axial direction of the main body2. The wings 51 entering the slit 3 from the distal side thereof undergoa change in direction at the boundary between the distal end portion 32and the proximal end portion 31, preferably, the middle portion 33 ofthe slit 3. However, since the main body 2 is formed of a flexiblematerial, the wings 51 can reach the proximal end portion 31 of the slit3 as they push the distal end portion 32 in the axial direction and openthe slit 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the needle tube 52 accommodated in the protector 1is arranged parallel to the axis of the main body 2, so that the bladeedge 53 of the needle tube 52 is not arranged parallel to the distal endportion 32 of the slit 3. Thus, there is no danger of the blade edge 53of the needle tube 52 sticking out of the distal end portion 32 of theslit 3 when the needle tube 52 is moved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, regarding the configuration of the slit3, the distal end portion 32, provided so as to extend in a directionthat is not parallel to the axial direction of the main body 2, mayconstitute solely the portion where the blade edge 53 of the needle tube52 is arranged when the winged needle 5 is accommodated in the protector1, the remaining portion of the slit constituting the proximal endportion 31 that is parallel to the axis. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 5,the proximal end portion 31, provided so as to be parallel to the axisof the main body 2, may constitute solely the portion where the wings 51are arranged when the winged needle 5 is accommodated in the protector1, the remaining portion constituting the distal end portion 32extending in a direction that is not parallel to the axial direction.The distal end portion 32 and preferably, a middle portion 33, may beangled relative to the axis of the main body 2 at an angle of 5 to 30°,preferably, 10 to 20° (see FIG. 6).

While there are no particular limitations regarding the configuration ofthe proximal end portion 31 of the slit 3, which is provided so as to beparallel to the axis of the sheath body, the proximal end portion 31desirably has a mechanism capable of effecting positioning of the wingsat a position that allows the needle tube to be completely accommodatedin the protector 1. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, itis possible to adopt a configuration in which the width of the slit 3 isenlarged only in a portion thereof to form a slot where the wings 51 arearranged, or as shown in FIG. 7, a configuration in which a protrusion34 capable of preventing the wings 51 from returning to the distal sideis formed on the distal side of the proximal end portion 31 of the slit3 where the wings 5 are arranged.

The distal end portion 32 of the slit 3, provided so as to extend in adirection not parallel to the axis of the protector sheath, may havesuch a configuration to have a certain angle with respect to the axisdirection to a degree so that the edge of the needle tube accommodatedin the protector 1 does not stick out. Thus, it is possible, as shown inFIG. 5, to form a linear slit which is at a fixed angle with respect tothe axis so as to form a middle portion and a distal end portion, or, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 4, to form a plurality of consecutive linearslits that are at fixed angles with respect to the axis, for example, ashallow V shape, or an arched shape. Regarding the portion where theslit direction changes, it is desirable to form the portion as a gentlycurved slit so that resistance to entry of the wings 51 will be reduced.The distal end portion 32 of the slit 3 may have a shallow V shape or anarched shape to receive the blade edge 53 of the needle tube 52.

The slit 3 in the present invention comprises, preferably, a proximalend portion having a slot with a closed end so as to be capable ofaccommodating the wing 5 and of arranging the needle tube 52 of thewinged needle 5 parallel to the axis of the main body 2, a middleportion parallel to the axis of the main body 2 and a distal end portionhaving a slit 3 with a shallow V shape or an arched shape so as to becapable of accommodating the blade edge 53 of the needle tube 52.

The protector 1 of the present invention can be mounted for use with aconventional ordinary winged needle. The conventional winged needle 5has a needle tube 52 with a sharp blade edge 53, a hub 54 firmlyattached to the proximal end portion of the needle tube 52, and wings 51provided on the hub 54. However, the winged needle according to thepresent invention is not limited to one have the configurations shown inthe FIGS. 1 to 7. When the winged needle 5 is to be used, a tube 55 isconnected to the proximal end of the winged needle 5, and the protector1 of the present invention is arranged on the tube 55 (see FIG. 4(a)).Since the protector 1 is formed of a flexible material, the innerdiameter thereof can be small enough so as to be capable of holding thetube 55. Thus, when the winged needle 5 is in use, the protector 1 doesnot freely move on the tube 55, thus making it always possible toarrange protector 1 in a position easily allowing accommodation of thewinged needle.

After use of the winged needle 5, the protector 1 of the presentinvention is slid forward toward the winged needle 5, whereby the wings51 of the winged needle 5 enter the slit or slits 3 of the protector 1from the distal side toward the proximal side, thus accommodating theneedle tube 52 and the blade edge 53 of the winged needle 5 in theprotector 1. The needle tube 52 accommodated in the protector 1 isarranged parallel to the axis of the main body 2, so that the blade edge53 of the winged needle 5 is not arranged parallel to the distal endportion 32 of the slit 3, which is provided so as to extend in adirection which is not parallel to the axial direction. Thus, there isno danger of the blade edge 53 of the needle tube 52 sticking out of theslit 3 of the protector 1.

In the protector of the present invention, there is provided a slitcomposed of a proximal end portion provided so as to be parallel to theaxis of the main body and a distal end portion provided so as to extendin a direction not parallel to the axial direction, whereby there is nofear of the needle tube and the edge of the winged needle accommodatedin the protector sticking out of the slit. Further, since there is noneed to provide the protector with a special mechanism for preventingthe needle tube and the edge from sticking out, the protector is of asimple structure that can be easily molded. Further, the protector ofthe present invention can be mounted for use not only with aconventional winged needle but also a newly devised winged needle, andinvolves no increase in hub structure size, thereby ensuringsatisfactory operability and facilitating fixing to the patient.

1. An assembly of a winged needle and a protector sheath foraccommodating the winged needle, said winged needle comprising a needletube with a sharp blade edge, a hub attached to a proximal end portionof the needle tube, a wing provided on the hub, and a flexible tubeconnected to the proximal end of the winged needle, and said protectorsheath being slidably positioned on the flexible tube and comprising acylindrical main body having a proximal end and a distal end, at leastthree slits provided in a side wall of the main body and dividing theside wall into a corresponding number of sections, and wherein each ofsaid at least three slits comprises a proximal end portion having a slotwith a closed end and capable of accommodating the wing of the wingedneedle, a middle portion parallel to the axis of the main body and acurved distal end portion arranged in the side wall of the main body onthe proximal side of the distal end and having a shallow V shape or anarched shape formed by a V shape or an arched shape convex portion inone of said sections and a corresponding V shape or arched shape concaveportion in an adjacent section and opposite the convex portion such thatthe convex portion and concave portion are interfitting, the proximalend portion of the slit being configured such that it receives the wingso that the needle tube of the winged needle is arranged parallel to theaxis of the main body.
 2. The assembly of a winged needle and protectorsheath for accommodating the winged needle according to claim 1, whereinthe proximal end portion of each of said at least three slits isprovided parallel to the axis of the main body.
 3. The assembly of awinged needle and protector sheath for accommodating the winged needleaccording to claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of each of saidat least three slits constitutes only the portion where the wing isarranged when the winged-needle is accommodated in the protector sheath.4. The assembly of a winged needle and protector sheath foraccommodating the winged needle according to claim 1, wherein the distalend portion of each of said at least three slits constitutes only theportion where the blade edge of the needle tube is arranged when thewinged needle is accommodated in the protector sheath.
 5. The assemblyof a winged needle and protector sheath for accommodating the wingedneedle according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least three slitsfurther comprises a means capable of effecting positioning of the wingat the position where the winged needle is accommodated in the protectorsheath.
 6. The assembly of a winged needle and protector sheath foraccommodating the winged needle according to claim 5, wherein the meansfor positioning the wing is formed by enlarging the width of the portionof each of said at least three slits where the wing is arranged.
 7. Theassembly of a winged needle and protector sheath for accommodating thewinged needle according to claim 5, wherein the means for positioningthe wing is formed by a protrusion provided on a distal side of theproximal end portion of each of said at least three slits where the wingis arranged.
 8. The assembly of a winged needle and protector sheath foraccommodating the winged needle according to claim 1, wherein the Vshape or arched shape convex portion and corresponding V shape or archedshape concave portion are formed so as to be gently curved.
 9. Theassembly of a winged needle and protector sheath for accommodating thewinged needle according to claim 1, wherein the main body is connectedat the proximal end portion to a holder having an aperture.
 10. Theassembly of a winged needle and protector sheath for accommodating thewinged needle according to claim 1, wherein the distal most end of eachof said at least three slits is outwardly flared.
 11. The assembly of awinged needle and protector sheath for accommodating the winged needleaccording to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical mainbody of the protector sheath has an inner diameter sufficiently small togrip and hold the flexible tube.